Garden Grove City Council Candidates

Twelve candidates are vying for two seats on the Garden Grove City Council in the Nov. 3 election, and four people are seeking the mayor’s seat. MAYOR Frank Kessler Age: 60. Occupation: Retired police chief. Background: Elected to City Council, 1988; Garden Grove police chief, 1976-88; member of Boys Club board of directors, 1976-92. Issues: Contends that the city “absolutely” is in a financial crisis, having eliminated 14 police and six firefighter positions and a paramedic van; suggests the city can get by this year by using pension fund refund of more than $2 million; would work to attract developers to vacant property; contends that infighting has had chilling effect on potential developers. Mark Leyes Age: 34. Occupation: Public affairs officer, Orange County Water District. Background: Elected to City Council, 1990; member of the board of directors of the Municipal Water District of Orange County, 1986-88. Issues: Contends that money exists to ensure quality of life and public safety, but that priorities must be reorganized; proposes sale of Willowick Golf Course for $10 million and contracting with Stanton for police services; contends that redevelopment should focus on bringing jobs and revenue to the city. Al Snook Age: 58. Occupation: Insurance broker. Background: Vice president of Chamber of Commerce, 1991; member of Orange County Symphony Guild and Miss Garden Grove Pageant Committee. Issues: Advocates locating a casino, hotel and restaurant on redevelopment land along Garden Grove Boulevard; claims it would generate about $1 million a month in taxes to the city and provide about 2,000 jobs; advocates rent control at mobile home parks. J. Tilman Williams Age: 67 Occupation: Insurance broker; real estate investor. Background: Served as mayor, 1976-78 and 1987-88; served on City Council, 1980-84 and 1988-92. Issues: Opposes utility tax and other fees without voter approval; contends that city has enough money on hand if it economizes, perhaps including employee pay cuts; would increase the police cadet program and start a fire cadet program; says redevelopment has been a limited success and would seek to meet with businesses to fill vacant land. CITY COUNCIL Tayfun Amur Age: 45. Occupation: Business management consultant. Background: Sixteen-year resident of Garden Grove. Issues: Contends that the city is in a financial crisis; proposes that the city form areas where similar and complementary businesses can be located in clusters; contends that political infighting has hurt the city’s image. Martha Janet Anderson-Monroe Age: 52. Occupation: Owner of Briar Patch Saloon. Background: Assisted handicapped children attending Strawberry Festival, 1992; sponsored live music program at Earthquake Prevention Week, 1992. Issues: Agrees that the city is in a financial crisis, but opposes new taxes; suggests that employees’ salaries may need to be cut; says current leadership is “pitiful.” David Baugh Age: 32. Occupation: Electrical engineer. Background: Helped raise money to rebuild Compton church burned in riots. Issues: Advocates cutting government spending; would consider selling Willowick Golf Course if recession continues; contends that officials do not respond to community concerns. Bart Blakesley Age: 51. Occupation: Transportation engineering manager. Background: Member of Planning Commission since 1988, was chairman in 1991; member of the board of directors of the Garden Grove Girls Club. Issues: Suggests that city tap into unused accounts temporarily; contends that a utility tax is unnecessary; advocates residential projects on vacant land in the downtown area; supports redevelopment. Bruce A. Broadwater Age: 53. Occupation: Insurance complaint investigator for state Department of Insurance. Background: President of Chamber of Commerce, 1990; Boy Scout commissioner. Issues: Contends that city has money to provide essential services but needs to cut spending habits, such as paying for officials’ trips to seminars; opposes redevelopment efforts, saying they should be concentrated on Harbor Boulevard rather than on Garden Grove Boulevard, where land sits vacant and is removed from tax rolls. Elizabeth Charron Age: 73. Occupation: Registered nurse, semi-retired. Background: Member of California Nurses Assn. governmental relations committee; active lobbyist for Gray Panthers senior citizen organization. Issues: Opposes utility tax; claims employees who would benefit from pay hikes mostly live out of town and would not pay tax themselves; laments unused redevelopment land but says there is no easy solution; contends that City Council members fight excessively and need leadership seminars.

Ho Chung Age: 58. Occupation: Insurance agent. Background: Member of Orange County Human Relations Commission; chairman, ad hoc committee of proposed International Trade and Cultural Center. Issues: Proposes converting vacant, public-owned land into an International Trade and Cultural Center, with pavilions operated by foreign countries; contends that it would attract tourist dollars at little cost to the city. Diane M. Donovan Age: 64. Occupation: Retired banker. Background: President, women’s division of Chamber of Commerce, 1991-92; winner of Cypress College’s 1992 Garden Grove Citizen of the Year Americana Award. Issues: Contends that financially ailing city should make extensive use of volunteers at parks, senior centers and the recreation department, and in code enforcement and graffiti removal; suggests that city aggressively pursue grants for programs such as gang suppression; suggests that city officials work together to attract business. Tony Ingegneri Age: 34. Occupation: Outdoor advertising executive. Background: Member of Planning Commission since 1990. Issues: Contends that a financial crisis threatens safety and well-being of city; says more police officers are needed to stop gang violence; contends that lack of teamwork splinters redevelopment efforts, and that developers now expect financial inducements. Milton Krieger Age: 57. Occupation: Urban planner. Background: Member of City Council from 1974-88; president of the West Garden Grove Little League, 1992. Issues: Says he does not believe the city faces a financial crisis and that money exists to avoid cuts in services, even if that means tapping water fund reserves; would work to end political infighting at council meetings. Jose Luis Moreno Jr. Age: 23. Occupation: Student at Rancho Santiago College. Background: Member of Orange County Together, an Irvine-based organization promoting racial harmony among diverse groups; participated in California Coastal Cleanup of 1992. Issues: Opposes any reductions in funds for police and fire departments; contends the city could raise money by providing police services to neighboring Stanton and by absorbing the local sanitation district. Walter C. Wood Jr. Age: 46. Occupation: Hospital admissions clerk; bishop for Orthodox Catholic Church in America, based in Garden Grove. Background: Cub Scout den leader, 1991-92; assisted in John Schmitz and George Wallace presidential campaigns. Issues: Proposes selling Willowick Golf Course and using the money, along with grants in federal programs, to build homes for low-income people and senior citizens; advocates rent control at apartments and mobile homes to protect seniors; opposes commercial redevelopment.